by our College Data Analytics TeamClemson University ranks #1 of 37 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in South Carolina ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 56% six-year graduation rate and $58,192 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in South Carolina, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **37** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 37 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Clemson University leads the 37 ranked colleges in South Carolina, followed by University Of South Carolina Columbia (#2) and Furman University (#3). Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Leading the list is Clemson University, our #1 college in South Carolina. Set in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Median early-career earnings reach $53,834. The median student debt is $23,783.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in South Carolina. Set in Columbia, SC, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,623. The median student debt is $24,537.
Out of the 37 colleges in South Carolina in this year's ranking, Furman University landed the #3 spot. Furman University is a private not-for-profit school based in Greenville, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. In-state tuition and fees average $59,770. Early-career graduates earn a median of $36,520. Graduates carry a median of $23,764 in student loans.
Medical University Of South Carolina came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in South Carolina. Set in Charleston, SC, Medical University Of South Carolina is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,972 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,380. Medical University Of South Carolina graduates report median early-career earnings of $89,719. Students borrow a median of $29,043 to complete a degree here.
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in South Carolina. This public school is set in Charleston, SC. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $12,570 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,508 for out-of-state students. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,909. Typical student debt is $24,305.
Wofford College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Wofford College is a private not-for-profit school based in Spartanburg, SC. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,005. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,052. Wofford College students take on a median of $24,643 in debt.
College Of Charleston came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Charleston, SC, College Of Charleston is a public institution. College Of Charleston graduates 66% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,978, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $40,222. College Of Charleston students take on a median of $24,733 in debt.
Anderson University Sc did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Anderson, SC, Anderson University Sc is a private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,970. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,036 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $28,034 in student loans.
Presbyterian College did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Clinton, SC. About 49% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,910. Presbyterian College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,393. Typical student debt is $25,803.
University Of South Carolina Upstate came in at #10 in this year's ranking. University Of South Carolina Upstate is a public school based in Spartanburg, SC. University Of South Carolina Upstate graduates 43% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,588, with out-of-state students paying around $23,090. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,473. University Of South Carolina Upstate students take on a median of $28,000 in debt.
Coastal Carolina University placed #11 among the best colleges in South Carolina. Coastal Carolina University is a public school based in Conway, SC. Coastal Carolina University posts a six-year graduation rate of 48%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,640, with out-of-state students paying around $29,628. Coastal Carolina University graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,272. Students borrow a median of $27,174 to complete a degree here.
Winthrop University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Rock Hill, SC, Winthrop University is a public institution. Winthrop University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,678, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,378 early in their careers. Winthrop University students take on a median of $27,040 in debt.
North Greenville University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Tigerville, SC, North Greenville University is a private not-for-profit institution. North Greenville University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,800. Median early-career earnings reach $42,864. Typical student debt is $24,128.
Columbia International University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Columbia, SC, Columbia International University is a private not-for-profit institution. Columbia International University posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. In-state tuition and fees average $27,900. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $32,296. Typical student debt is $21,667.
University Of South Carolina Aiken placed #15 among the best colleges in South Carolina. Located in Aiken, SC, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a public institution. University Of South Carolina Aiken posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,760, while out-of-state students pay about $21,218. University Of South Carolina Aiken graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,220. The median student debt is $27,011.
Erskine College And Seminary placed #16 among the best colleges in South Carolina. Set in Due West, SC, Erskine College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Erskine College And Seminary graduates 45% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Median early-career earnings reach $35,695. Erskine College And Seminary students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
Columbia College South Carolina landed the #17 spot in South Carolina this year. Based in Columbia, SC, Columbia College South Carolina is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,054. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,339 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $28,158.
Newberry College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Newberry, SC, Newberry College is a private not-for-profit institution. Newberry College graduates 45% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,100. Newberry College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,702. Graduates carry a median of $27,729 in student loans.
Lander University landed the #19 spot in South Carolina this year. Lander University is a public school based in Greenwood, SC. Lander University graduates 50% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,700, while out-of-state students pay about $21,300. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,548. Typical student debt is $26,064.
Charleston Southern University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Charleston, SC, Charleston Southern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,520. Charleston Southern University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,288. The median student debt is $27,569.
Southern Wesleyan University landed the #21 spot in South Carolina this year. Based in Central, SC, Southern Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,800. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,539. Graduates carry a median of $31,554 in student loans.
University Of South Carolina Beaufort landed the #22 spot in South Carolina this year. University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a public school based in Bluffton, SC. About 34% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,730, with out-of-state students paying around $21,776. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,254 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $27,971 in student loans.
Converse College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in Spartanburg, SC, Converse College is a private not-for-profit institution. Converse College posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees average $25,240. Median early-career earnings reach $38,940. Typical student debt is $26,715.
Francis Marion University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Set in Florence, SC, Francis Marion University is a public institution. Francis Marion University posts a six-year graduation rate of 43%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,170, compared with $21,544 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,456 early in their careers. The median student debt is $30,577.
Spartanburg Methodist College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Spartanburg, SC, Spartanburg Methodist College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,650. Spartanburg Methodist College graduates report median early-career earnings of $14,509. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete a degree here.
These 12 colleges rank #26 through #37 of 37 in South Carolina. These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.